Spawning Secrets

It’s that time of year again. Well actually it’s not, as we would usually start spawning our Orfe broodstock a fortnight ago. Owing to the unseasonally cold Spring we have held off.

However, we can delay no longer and Chris Seagrave, spawning guru, can be seen below hypophysing the golden and blue Orfe ( a colour varient of the native Ide(Leuciscus idus)) to induce controlled ovulation later in the week.

Chris Seagrave calculating the spawning dose rates

The Secret of our Success

We are often asked about the ‘secret’ of successfully spawning different species of fish. Most species have published protocols or recipes that if followed will induce egg production. However, the unwritten secret to this black art is in the management of the broodstock prior to the actual spawning procedure.

The broodstock will be developing their eggs over the previous summer and they need to have been fed a fully balanced diet in a unstressful environment to ensure that their eggs are viable and healthy the following Spring. Rough handling, temperature shocks or poor water quality are all major contributors to poor egg production and fry survival.

Our broodstock are treated like royalty on our farm and even when they come up to the fish house to be spawned they are keep segregated from any noise or disturbance. (see video blog of orfe in broodstock conditioning tanks) They are handled only once sedated and every effort is made to keep them relaxed and stress free. All equipment is sterilised and disinfected.